Deaf actor John McGinty portrays Quasimodo in the musical production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

Actor John McGinty stars as Quasimodo in the new musical “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts will present the show with a preview on Friday and regular performances beginning Saturday through Oct. 9.

Sound

The gallery will resume inseconds

Actor John McGinty stars as Quasimodo in the musical production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dam.” Directed by Glenn Casale, the show will preview on Friday, with regular performances running Saturday through Oct. 9.

The ringing of the bells of Notre Dame will awaken the La Mirada Theatre’s 2016-17 season with a musical production of the familiar and heartfelt story “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

The innovative musical will combine Victor Hugo’s original dark tale, set in Paris during the Middle Ages, with the catchy Academy Award-nominated musical score of the 1996 animated Disney film.

The production, which has a preview performance Friday before opening Saturday and running through Oct. 9, brings many firsts to the stage, including being the only theatrical collaboration from composer Alan Menken (Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked,” “Pippin”).

The score introduces new songs to the theater as well, including “Someday,” which only played over the credits of the film.

It is also the first time the lead character Quasimodo – who is deaf in the classic Hugo novel – is being played by a deaf actor, John McGinty. The actor has performed in numerous productions, including Deaf West Theater’s “Pippin,” but he said this particular show is “breaking something in history.”

“Many people probably just assume the Hunchback is similar to Disney, but the musical actually follows closer to the book, where Quasimodo is deaf,” McGinty said. “And that really inspired me to represent the authenticity of that as a whole, and what it looks like. I want to bring more in-depth skill to that Disney part.”

McGinty worked with the production team to translate all of his songs into American Sign Language. Then he met with Dino Nicandros, who performs the singing voice of Quasimodo, to synchronize their movements and vocals by communicating through sign and body language.

“When the vocalist makes their first attempt, it is awkward at first, but we try to work with the visual cues, signing then singing, so it comes off very seamlessly,” McGinty said. “As the process goes on, I work my movements and expressions and that helps coordinate with the vocal range, and then they fit to my emotions as they sing.”

One would think pairing his acting with another person’s vocals would be the biggest challenge for McGinty, but he said the physical part of the role – including hunching over throughout the entire show – is not as trying as the emotional parts.

“There’s actually an internal struggle that’s part of the challenge, because there are so many emotions to the story and to my character,” he said. “But the director, Glenn Casale, is an extraordinary and brilliant person, and the trust I have in him just made it easier, so it’s been an amazing experience.”

Scenic designer Stephen Gifford returns to La Mirada Theatre (“Carrie: The Musical,” “Rent”) with a set that mimics the Notre Dame Cathedral, which includes the tower’s massive bells, as well as scenes in the streets of late-1400s Paris.

The story features the church official and villain Frollo, played by Mark Jacoby, who becomes enamored of the gypsy Esmeralda, played by Cassie Simone. Conflict ensues as Captain Phoebus, played by Eric Kunze, and bell ringer Quasimodo also fall in love with the gypsy, and together, they work to free her from Frollo.

The music is primarily vocals performed by an 18-member choir, which includes the ensemble. Songs will include “God Help the Outcasts,” “Top of the World,” “Heaven’s Light” and “The Court of Miracles.”

“I want the audience to come to the show with an open heart and mind, and to witness this beautiful story,” said McGinty, “This may or may not be a new experience for someone seeing a deaf actor onstage, but I want them to also witness Disney allowing a deaf actor to use sign language in their musical.”

Jackie Moe is a features reporter for the Orange County Register. She has covered entertainment since 2010 for the Press-Enterprise and the OC Register, including local events, theater previews, concert reviews, and human interest stories. Since 2015, she has reported as the head theater writer, covering local and national touring productions. She received her Masters in Professional Communications from California State University Fullerton, where she reported for the campus broadcast channel O.C. News and executed a PR campaign for the non-profit organization 100 Mile Club. She received her BA in English and journalism from California Baptist University, serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the campus newspaper “The Banner”. She is a member of the OC Press Club, serving on the board in 2015-2016. In her free time, she is an avid runner, local shows and concertgoer, and a hockey and baseball enthusiast, torn between two lovers with SoCal (father) and Chicago (mother) sports teams.